Christian and Muslim leaders in Ghana have come out against a proposal to change the length of the presidential term to five years, according to Graphic Online. The religious leaders made their position known as Ghana's constitutional reform debate continues.
The proposal is one of several changes under discussion in the country's ongoing constitutional review process. Graphic Online reports that the opposition from faith leaders adds a significant voice to the debate over how Ghana's presidency should be structured.
The pushback comes amid broader scrutiny of the reform agenda. ConstitutionNet has examined the gap between public consensus and government power in implementing Ghana's constitutional changes. A governance advocate, quoted by the Ghana News Agency, argued that any reforms must be able to survive changes in government, warning against measures that could be undone by future administrations.
The Trades Union Congress has also raised concerns, according to thebftonline.com, warning that a referendum on the reforms risks leaving out key proposals. And Professor Prempeh, reported by the Ghanaian Times, has called for consensus to be built around the reform process rather than having changes imposed.
The involvement of religious leaders — whose influence spans a large share of Ghana's population — signals that the term-length proposal faces opposition beyond political circles. Their stance could shape how the government approaches the next stage of consultations.
What to watch next: whether the government adjusts its reform proposals in response to the religious leaders' position, and how the referendum process unfolds in the coming months.
